MUMBAI, May 24 — Actor Mukul Dev, known for his work in films such as Son of Sardaar, R… Rajkumar, and Jai Ho, passed away on Friday night at the age of 54. While the cause of death has not been officially confirmed, sources said he had been unwell and was in intensive care in his final days.
The news of his passing was first shared by actress and close friend Deepshikha Nagpal, who posted a photograph with Dev on Instagram Stories, captioned, “Can’t believe this. RIP.”
A wave of grief swept across the Indian film industry as colleagues and fans paid tribute to the late actor. Vindu Dara Singh, who worked with Mukul in Son of Sardaar, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong!”
Actor Manoj Bajpayee also expressed shock over Dev’s sudden demise, remembering him as a warm, affectionate presence on and off the screen.
The younger brother of actor Rahul Dev, Mukul was last seen in the Hindi film Anth The End. His career spanned nearly three decades across television and film, earning him recognition for his versatile performances.
Mukul’s first taste of performance came while he was in Class 8, when he impersonated Michael Jackson during a Doordarshan-organised dance show — a performance that earned him his first paycheque. He made his television debut in 1996 with the series Mumkin and went on to appear in shows like Ek Se Badhkar Ek. He also hosted the first season of Fear Factor India.
He entered the film industry with the 1996 movie Dastak, where he starred as ACP Rohit Malhotra opposite Sushmita Sen in her acting debut.
Born in Delhi to a Punjabi family with ancestral roots near Jalandhar, Mukul was the son of the late Hari Dev, who served as an assistant commissioner of police. A man of many talents, Mukul was fluent in Pashto and Persian, had a deep appreciation for Afghan culture, and was also a trained pilot from the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi.
As condolences continue to pour in, Mukul Dev is being remembered not only for his roles but also for the warmth, talent, and dignity he brought to the Indian entertainment landscape.
